insignia
[ in-sig-nee-uh ]
/ ɪnˈsɪg ni ə /
noun, formally a plural of insigne, but usually used as a singular with plural in·sig·ni·a or in·sig·ni·as.
a badge or distinguishing mark of office or honor: a military insignia.
a distinguishing mark or sign of anything: an insignia of mourning.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
insidiously, insight, insightful, insightfully, insigne, insignia, insignificance, insignificancy, insignificant, insincere, insincerity
Also insigne.
Origin of insignia
Usage note
Insignia, originally the plural of Latin insigne, began to be used as a singular in the 18th century, and the plural insignias appeared shortly thereafter. All uses— insignia as a singular or plural and insignias as a plural—are fully standard. The singular insigne still occurs, but insignia is more common.
Definition for insignia (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for insignia
British Dictionary definitions for insignia
insignia
/ (ɪnˈsɪɡnɪə) /
noun plural -nias or -nia
a badge or emblem of membership, office, or dignity
a distinguishing sign or mark
Also called (rare): insigne (ɪnˈsɪɡniː)
Word Origin for insignia
C17: from Latin: marks, badges, from insignis distinguished by a mark, prominent, from in- ² + signum mark
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for insignia
insignia
1640s, from Latin insignia, neuter plural of insigne "badge, mark," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + signum "mark" (see sign). Singular is insigne.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper